Arkansas Leaves Baltimore Raving

Dudley E. Dawson

04/30/2012

Mansfield (Texas) safety George Baltimore (6-0, 205) is contemplating joining former high school teammate Tevin Mitchel in a future Arkansas secondary after a visit to unofficial visit Fayetteville that left him very impressed.

Mansfield (Texas) safety George Baltimore has seen all he needs to and now it's just about making a decision where he wants to spend the next four to five years.

Baltimore (6-0, 205) – who has 15 scholarship offers - said that his visit to Arkansas for the April 21st Red-White game basically concluded his research gathering.

"That's going to be my last visit and now I am just going to concentrate on getting better in spring ball and deciding where I want to go," Baltimore said. "I am going to commit either this spring or summer, but definitely plan on getting it done before my season starts."

Baltimore said that Arkansas and Baylor are his top two schools – something etched in stone after his visit to see the Razorbacks.

"I just loved my visit to Arkansas, the campus and everything about the program," Baltimore said. "I felt like I fit in real good with the players and the defensive coaches."

That includes Razorback defensive coordinator Paul Haynes and defensive line coach Kevin Peoples.

"I just really got a great vibe from Coach Haynes and he made it clear just how much they want me and need me to come to Arkansas," Baltimore said. "When I talked to Coach Peoples later, he told me that Coach Haynes said ‘we have got to get George Baltimore' and that just made me feel great.

"Coach Haynes told me that they love to play three safeties at times and have some guys leaving so that I could come in and earn some playing time right away," Baltimore added. "That really got my attention."

Mitchel has talked up Arkansas to Baltimore and it has resonated with him.

"He loves it at Arkansas and says it is just a great school and such a great family atmosphere where the players just all care about each other and work toward a common goal," Baltimore said. "He wants me to come up there and the fact that he got up there and got to play right away tells me a lot."

As for Baylor, Baltimore said he has a good feel for that school as well.

"It's nearby and that don't have a lot of players coming back either so I could play there as well," Baltimore said. "They are both great schools. I have a lot of great offers."

Baltimore had 76 tackles, 15 pass break ups and 7 interceptions – 3 of which he took back for scores.

"I really liked to come up and stick my nose in there and make plays, but I also feel really good about my pass coverage," Baltimore said. "I feel like I can read the quarterback's eyes and have a good break on the ball."

The Razorbacks replaced ousted head coach Bobby Petrino with former assistant John L. Smith, who has been hired for just this season.

One might wonder if not having a permanent head coach in place might work against Arkansas, but Baltimore says that is not the case with him.

"Coaches are going to come and go so that's not going to be a factor at all," Baltimore said. "Arkansas has great assistant coaches and will get a great head coach because it is a great program. They have great players, great fans and a great future."